For more informa- tion about vaccina- tions, go to
www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

MEDIA BAKERY

A shot
of good
health

mococcal disease as a child, it might be
time for a booster shot to re-up your protection. There is also a chance that an important
childhood immunization such as chicken pox
was missed, increasing your risk of contracting
a vaccine-preventable illness. “If you’ve lost
your [immunization] records and are unsure
about whether you were vaccinated as a child,
there is no harm in getting revaccinated as an
adult,” says Raymond A. Strikas, M.D.,
senior adviser in the immunization services division at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (
www.cdc.gov).

Adults need
vaccinations too

By Jodi Helmer

THINK IMMUNIZATIONS ARE just for
kids? You could be missing out on important
protections against illnesses and infections.
Rolling up your sleeve for a shot could also
save your life: Approximately 50,000 adults
die in the United States every year from vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
(
www.nfid.org).

Despite the benefits of vaccinations,
adults are under-immunized. “There is a
lack of awareness about the need [for adults
to be vaccinated] and which vaccines are
required,” explains Deborah Wexler, M.D.,
executive director of the Immunization
Action Coalition (
www.immunize.org), a
nonprofit organization working to increase
immunization rates through education.

There are also misconceptions about how
immunizations work. Vaccines are made
from small amounts of bacteria or viruses that
mimic the disease, causing your immune system to build up antibodies to fight the illness if you’re infected. While some
vaccinations, such as the measles,
mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine,
offer lifetime protection, others, including the influenza vaccine, need to be
repeated. In other words, it’s a mistake
to think the vaccines you got in childhood are still protecting you.

The types of vaccines you need
depend on a number of considerations, including your immunization
history, age and risk factors. In general,
there are three categories of vaccines
to consider.

New vaccines

There is a good chance that new vaccines have been developed and vaccine recommendations have changed since your last
round of immunizations. For example, most
adults have never received the hepatitis B
vaccine because it wasn’t part of the immunization schedule until 1991. The zoster vaccine to protect against shingles has been
available for only the last five years. Talk to
your healthcare provider to find out which
new (or newly recommended) vaccines
might be right for you.

THE CENTERS for Disease
Control and Prevention
uses the month of August
to remind everyone to get
caught up on shots. Be
aware of the basic requirements, plus whatever your
doctor might recommend.

Up-to-date immunizations are especially
important as you get older because your
immune system weakens, making you more
susceptible to contracting vaccine-preventable diseases. The zoster vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50; a booster of the
Vaccinations are an important part of preventive healthcare for all adults but are especially
important if you’re in a high-risk group.
International travelers and healthcare
workers are more apt to come in contact
with vaccine-preventable diseases,
increasing their risk of infection. Those
with compromised immune systems,
including diabetics and smokers, are in
danger of suffering from infection-related complications.

No matter what your health history, Strikas believes up-to-date
immunizations are essential. “There is
no reason to risk illness, possible hospitalization and sometimes death
when there are effective vaccines
available,” he says. C

Childhood vaccines

Even if you received vaccines for
MMR, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis,
meningococcal disease and pneu-

Jodi Helmer is a fully vaccinated
freelance writer in Charlotte,

North Carolina.

The Costco
Connection

Many Costco pharmacists are trained and
certified to provide vaccination and immunization services, but not all
Costco pharmacies can
offer all vaccines. Call
ahead (
www.costco.
com/warehouse/locator.
aspx) to determine the
range of services provided at your local Costco
pharmacy, as well as:

● Availability of vaccines
in your state

● Age requirements:
typically age 12 and
older, but varies by
state; parental consent
is required for those
younger than 18